Richmond v Geelong: Mick Malthouse reveals the six players who could decide the 2020 AFL grand final
The grand final ruck battle between Richmond’s Toby Nankervis and Geelong’s Rhys Stanley pits strength against speed. And it could go a long way to deciding the outcome of the match, writes Mick Malthouse.
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There are obvious matchwinners in both grand final teams, but there are also several players who play significant roles within each team structure, and when performed well inevitably lead to a win.
These are the six X-factor players who could influence the outcome next Saturday.
RICHMOND
TOBY NANKERVIS
Part-way through this year, his career almost appeared over as Ivan Soldo became the anointed one by playing fantastic football.
But when Soldo went down with an ACL injury, Nankervis regained the ruck title and has since shown why he had such an impact on Richmond’s two premiership fortunes.
On Friday night he lost the hitout count to Scott Lycett and Peter Ladhams, but when it came to the crunch and marks needed to be taken with constant bombardment of 50m entries by Port, Nankervis stood tall with three telling marks in the last quarter.
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All of his late possessions came deep inside the defensive 50.
His durability, and the way he covers the ground both offensively and defensively, and his presence at the stoppages paved the way for the Tigers’ midfield to dominate the clearances.
He is a workhorse, fortunately for Richmond, as the likelihood is that he will predominantly ruck on his own in the grand final. For the Tigers to go back-to-back, he is a must to play well.
JACK RIEWOLDT
With all the talk about Tom Lynch and the enormous amount of focus he receives, it cannot be forgotten how important a player Jack Riewoldt is for Richmond.
I have written previously that he should consider retiring while at the top of his game, and I stand by that for the sake of his legacy, but that doesn’t take away from his value in this grand final.
He has been a magnificent forward for the Tigers, as their leading goalkicker for nine years before Lynch took the title.
But noticeably, over a year ago we saw Riewoldt become ultra-conscious of supporting his fellow forwards.
It has become very obvious this year that his intent is to make it easier for his teammates to score, which is a highly commendable attribute.
He bullies the packs, and while he no longer draws the ball like he used to, he has become an expert at tapping or knocking the ball on into a favourable position for the smaller forwards to capitalise on. He draws the defence away from the primary target, Lynch, because it still takes a very good defender to keep him out of the game.
His overall stats are down but his goal assists are high on his agenda.
While he has lost pace and some depth in his kicking, and his big marks are few and far between now, clearly his enthusiasm and team-first approach continue to make him a valuable Tiger asset and will be hugely beneficial in the grand final.
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NOAH BALTA
He turns 21 on grand final eve, so maybe he’ll have a double celebration on Saturday night? Rarely does a player come into an already successful team and make himself so relied on, instantly.
He has come such a long way in such a short period of time.
For a big man he is so quick.
This may be an unfair comparison so early on in his career, but when Alex Rance left Richmond we all wondered how the team would cope without his backline heroics.
Balta is just as quick as Rance if not quicker, probably stronger, and 10 years younger, and has become the answer to the Rance question.
He has handled every forward he has played on with aplomb and will no doubt become the general of the Tigers’ backline.
He was swung forward on Friday night with immediate effect, taking a big mark.
His shot just missed but he looked dangerous.
He is the perfect finals player – unruffled, focused, multi-positional – and will be as
important as any player on the ground in the grand final.
He will trouble any key forward with his strength and pace and he has no hesitation in spoiling the ball instead of looking for heroic marks.
There will no let-up for his direct opponent and no easy possessions.
He has blended in beautifully with Dylan Grimes, Bachar Houli, Liam Baker, Nick Vlastuin, and Nathan Broad, and will make the Richmond backline a formidable force on grand final day.
GEELONG
LACHIE HENDERSON
For a player who is at his third club and was dropped to the rookie list, there was a big question mark over him coming into this year.
But the 30-year-old from Birregurra has had an outstanding back end of the season.
He has handled all types of forwards and gives Geelong great versatility with the ability to go forward if needed.
He can play as an intercept player, he is extremely efficient with his foot passing, and his metres gained is always on the high side because of the depth of his kicking and reliable, intelligent use of the ball.
He is cool under pressure with the capacity to think things through without being rushed.
He has a below average intercept rate but is more comfortable in one-on-one drills where he excels.
Alongside Harry Taylor and Tom Stewart, the Cats virtually have any forward line covered for height and speed. Henderson will likely have Tom Lynch or Jack Riewoldt and neither player will find him easy to take on with his determination and concentration for four quarters, which makes him pivotal to Geelong’s chance at winning the Cup.
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GRYAN MIERS
He has many attributes but the one that makes him unique is his ability to work the full ground, all game.
Against Collingwood he won 55 per cent of his possessions in the back half as a forward.
As Miers rarely needs a breather, Chris Scott is able to use his more explosive players through the interchange, which is a big positive in a grand final.
Miers averages a goal a game with his unique but effective kicking style, because he spends a lot of the time outside the forward 50 working defensively for his teammates.
He is, however, on the low side of average for tackle counts and pressure points, where he could be better, but as a small forward he complements the work done by Luke Dahlhaus and Gary Ablett by providing balance.
He is the sort of player who worries most small backs as he is not an easy target by being constantly on the move.
He has the capability of kicking miraculous goals to inspire the Cats, and his work ethic is outstanding, two attributes which bode well for grand final success.
RHYS STANLEY
After a long stint at St Kilda, for all intents and purposes he has had an indifferent career at Geelong.
The Cats have been bamboozled with where to play him – in the ruck, forward, or as a ruck rover type – but the facts are he is probably a combination of them all.
There is sometimes an impression that Stanley is fragile.
He has a fantastic build but is often injured.
He is clearly carrying an injury of sorts into the grand final, however he will get a chop-out in the ruck from Mark Blicavs.
This season, in my opinion, has been his best and most reliably performed.
All of his major stats are going north, from clearance rates (above average), score involvement (elite), hit outs (average), and he has better than career figures in contested possessions and disposals.
It is vital for Geelong to have a fit and aggressive Rhys Stanley.
He offers another clearance option for the Cats, averaging 3.3 a game, and he will trouble any side when he goes forward with an excellent mark and a long and accurate kick, and that makes him dangerous in a grand final.
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Originally published as Richmond v Geelong: Mick Malthouse reveals the six players who could decide the 2020 AFL grand final
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